When erroneous rumors of his demise reached Mark Twain, he famously responded, “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” Similarly, the estate tax’s impending death is often reported, but unless Congress acts, it’s still alive — at least for now.

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With less than two months to go before the Nov. 6 election, the focus of the media is on the presidential race. Power in Washington is perceived to reside in the White House and understandably so. However, power on the Potomac also splits between President Obama and a divided Congress. The House of Representatives is firmly in Republican control, and they expect it to remain that way. The Senate has a 53-47 Democratic majority (with two of the 53 being Independents who caucus with the Democrats.) The November elections will not only tell us which party controls the White House. They will also determine if one party will once again control Congress and the White House. How key U.S. Senate races unfold will answer that question.

I experienced my first Louisiana Peach Festival, and it did not disappoint.

Between hanging out with a band, witnessing a Guinness World Record and getting to hang out with family and friends, it truly is too hard to pick which part of my festival experience stood out the most.

In my mind, every experience I had during the festival went above and beyond the bar I set for the Peach Festival.

And then of course there were the stars of the hour: Ruston peaches.

Truthfully, peaches do not do it for me, as I alluded to in a previous column.

I sincerely wish each and every one of you a most blessed and Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season.

As I wish this to you, I do write with a heavy heart. I know many of you feel the same thing. We all try to meaningfully and effectively say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” Yet how can these words have any current meaning in Newtown, Conn.?

Those were the words of a friend, uttered with sarcasm, in a group, which I overheard not long ago. Looking in my direction to catch my response, I obliged, and asked what level of profound thinking had he reached. He basically said:

“Well, here we are in February (when he said it). We had Presidents Day, Mardi Gras this year, Valentines Day, Groundhog Day and Lord knows what else.